Newsletter date: 19 April 2014
Contents:
* National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: Congress Calls for Conscience Vote on Racism
* The Australian: Indigenous call for racism conscience vote
* National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: Close the Gap warns of impact of RDA changes
* National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: Proposed changes to the RDA threaten racial cohesion
* National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: Joint Statement: Leaders reject proposed RDA changes
* National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: Joint Statement: Coalition MP breaks ranks on Sect 18C
* Background to National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
* Let's Talk: Callum Clayton-Dixon speaks to Pat Etock, Irene Watson, Michael Mansell and Aamer Rahman about the proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act
* Let's Talk's Tiga Bayles interviews Chris Graham about the proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act
* Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese: Concerns over Govt's Planned Changes to Racial Discrimination Act
* Michael Gordon, SMH: Aboriginal MP Ken Wyatt breaks ranks with Coalition on racial discrimination laws
* Chris Bourke MLA: Roundtable on Racial Discrimination Protections
* "The Roundtable urged individuals and organisations to also make submissions to the Brandis review"
* ABC News: Kimberley MP warns against changing Racial Discrimination Act
* Australian Human Rights Commission: Overwhelming majority reject change to racial vilification law
* CAAMA Radio: We cannot ignore the human question of the debate ...Race Discrimination Commissioner
* Stephanie Anderson, SBS News: Authors and artists speak out against changes to RDA
* Background: Opposition to proposed Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) changes
* NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES: CONGRESS CALLS FOR CONSCIENCE VOTE ON RACISM
- Media Release
National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: Congress Calls for Conscience Vote on Racism
https://nationalcongress.com.au/news-pics/
https://nationalcongress.com.au/congress-calls-for-conscience-vote-on-ra...
14 Apr 14: "The Board of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples calls for all members of the national parliament to stand up against racism in Australia.
The proposal by the Attorney General to weaken the Racial Discrimination Act is not consistent with the State’s obligation to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination in Australia.
The Attorney General has not made the case that Andrew Bolt was mistreated under the laws of the country, nor that the Bolt case provides evidence that the right to freedom of expression should be extended to endorse racial bigotry.
The State has international obligations to promote both tolerance and cultural diversity amongst all persons and groups in Australia.
The right to freedom of speech does not extend to a right to harm or incite hatred against racial or cultural groups.
As the chief lawman in the nation the Attorney General should not be seen to be condoning or legitimising racism.
Congress is firmly opposed to any return to the racial intolerance and injustices against the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which are forms of abuse and oppression that have routinely devastated and denied rights for our population over two centuries. ... "
* THE AUSTRALIAN: INDIGENOUS CALL FOR RACISM CONSCIENCE VOTE
- News
The Australian: Indigenous call for racism conscience vote
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous-call-for-rac...
14 Apr 14: "THE Board of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples _ the peak indigenous group in the country _ has called for all members of the national parliament to have a conscience vote on the racial discrimination act changes. Section 18C of the act makes it unlawful to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate on the grounds of race, colour or ethnicity. Under draft proposals, the government would replace 18C with provisions making it unlawful to vilify or intimidate others on similar grounds, but with broad exemptions." Patricia Karvelas
* NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES: CLOSE THE GAP WARNS OF IMPACT OF RDA CHANGES
- News
National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: Close the Gap warns of impact of RDA changes
https://nationalcongress.com.au/news-pics/
https://nationalcongress.com.au/close-the-gap-warns-of-impact-of-rda-cha...
1 Apr 14: "The Close the Gap Campaign today called on the government to rethink the proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) and consider the impact they could have on closing the health equality gap. The Campaign believes that the RDA provides a vital protection against racism and vilification in the community. Campaign Co-Chair Kirstie Parker … "
* NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES: PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE RDA THREATEN RACIAL COHESION
- News
National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: Proposed changes to the RDA threaten racial cohesion
https://nationalcongress.com.au/news-pics/
https://nationalcongress.com.au/proposed-changes-to-the-rda-threaten-rac...
25 Mar 14: "The elected representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples says Federal Government plans to abolish important legislative protections for the racially vulnerable threaten decades of hard work to build positive race relations in Australia. The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (Congress) rejects the government’s Freedom of Speech (Repeal of S. 18D) Bill 2014, … "
* NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES: JOINT STATEMENT: LEADERS REJECT PROPOSED RDA CHANGES
- News
National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: Joint Statement: Leaders reject proposed RDA changes
https://nationalcongress.com.au/news-pics/
https://nationalcongress.com.au/joint-statment-race-hate-laws/
18 Mar 14: "Community leaders reject mooted changes to race hate laws Representatives of the Indigenous, Greek, Jewish, Chinese, Arab, Armenian and Korean communities have expressed their "vehement opposition" to changes that have been mooted to sections of the Racial Discrimination Act which prohibit public conduct that is reasonably likely to "offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate" a person … "
* NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES: JOINT STATEMENT: COALITION MP BREAKS RANKS ON SECT 18C
- News
National Congress of Australia's First Peoples: Joint Statement: Coalition MP breaks ranks on Sect 18C
https://nationalcongress.com.au/news-pics/
https://nationalcongress.com.au/joint-statement-4-coalition-mp-breaks-ra...
13 Mar 14: "Joint Statement: Coalition MP breaks ranks with Federal government on section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act Coalition MP, Craig Laundy, the Federal Member for Reid, has come out publicly to oppose any changes to sections of the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) which prohibit public conduct that is reasonably likely to "offend, insult, humiliate or … ""
* BACKGROUND TO NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES:
Last updated: 25 February 2014
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-national-congress-o...
* LET'S TALK: CALLUM CLAYTON-DIXON SPEAKS TO PAT ETOCK, IRENE WATSON, MICHAEL MANSELL AND AAMER RAHMAN ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT
- Audio Interview
Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane:
Let's Talk - Racial Discrimination Act
http://www.989fm.com.au/category/podcasts/lets-talk/
14 Apr 14: "Callum Clayton-Dixon speaks to Pat Etock, Irene Watson, Michael Mansell and Aamer Rahman about the proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act."
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/racial-discrimination-act/
* LET'S TALK'S TIGA BAYLES INTERVIEWS CHRIS GRAHAM ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT
- Audio Interview
Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane:
Let's Talk - Chris Graham
http://www.989fm.com.au/category/podcasts/lets-talk/
15 Apr 14: "Freelance Journalist and writer for Tracker Magazine. Speaking about the proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act and the Country Liberal party gaining a seat in the Northern Territory’s recent by-election."
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/chris-graham-76/
* CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS, SYDNEY ARCHDIOCESE: CONCERNS OVER GOVT'S PLANNED CHANGES TO RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT
- News
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese: Concerns over Govt's Planned Changes to Racial Discrimination Act
http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2014/2014415_945.shtml
15 Apr 14: "The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) has expressed its deep concern over proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act which would repeal Section 18C which makes it unlawful for someone to publicly "offend, insult, humiliate and intimidate" a person or group of people. ... Craig Arthur points out that while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders struggle to protect their children from racism, NATSICC firmly believes it is the role of Government to ensure these children have "the right to participate and live in a society on an equal footing with anyone else." ... "
* MICHAEL GORDON, SMH: ABORIGINAL MP KEN WYATT BREAKS RANKS WITH COALITION ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION LAWS
- News
SMH: Aboriginal MP Ken Wyatt breaks ranks with Coalition on racial discrimination laws
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/aboriginal-mp-ken-...
15 Apr 14: "Indigenous Coalition MP Ken Wyatt has spoken out against the repeal of legislation making it unlawful to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate on the grounds of race or ethnicity. Mr Wyatt told Fairfax Media he fears that repealing section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act would disempower the vulnerable or result in a hardening of intolerant attitudes. ... Ethnic, religious and indigenous groups and leaders have urged the government to think again." Michael Gordon, Political editor, The Age
* CHRIS BOURKE MLA: ROUNDTABLE ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS
- News
Chris Bourke MLA: Roundtable on Racial Discrimination Protections
http://www.chrisbourke.com.au/2014/04/14/roundtable-on-racial-discrimina...
14 Apr 14: "The Roundtable on Racial Discrimination Protections I hosted at the Assembly on Friday focused on the Brandis/Bolt changes to the RDA and our protections under ACT law from racial vilification and abuse. Thanks to all who took part including Rod Little Chair of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, ACT Human Rights and Discrimination Commissioner Dr Helen Watchirs, Law Prof. Simon Rice ANU and Harry Oppermann from the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum. In the Assembly sittings this Wednesday my motion condemning the proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act and calling on the ACT to make a submission to the Brandis review by April 30 received tri-partisan support. ... "
* "THE ROUNDTABLE URGED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS TO ALSO MAKE SUBMISSIONS TO THE BRANDIS REVIEW"
The Roundtable urged individuals and organisations to also make submissions to the Brandis review:
http://www.ag.gov.au/consultations/Pages/ConsultationsonamendmentstotheR...
[Submissions close on Wednesday, 30 April 2014]
* ABC NEWS: KIMBERLEY MP WARNS AGAINST CHANGING RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT
- News
ABC News: Kimberley MP warns against changing Racial Discrimination Act
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-15/kimberley-mp-warns-against-changin...
15 Apr 14: "Kimberley MP Josie Farrer has joined calls for the Federal Government to abandon plans to amend sections of the Racial Discrimination Act. The legislation currently makes it a crime for people to offend, insult or humiliate somebody on racial grounds. The federal Attorney-General is pushing to remove those sections. ... "It doesn't matter whether we're a different skin person to the next person, we should accept each other as we are," she [Josie Farrer] said. "We need to keep the laws they've put in place, we need to keep them in place because how else will we teach our children to respect each other.""
* AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: OVERWHELMING MAJORITY REJECT CHANGE TO RACIAL VILIFICATION LAW
- News
Australian Human Rights Commission: Overwhelming majority reject change to racial vilification law
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/overwhelming-majority-reject...
14 Apr 14: "Today’s Nielsen poll showing 88% of respondents disagree with the contention that it should be lawful to offend, insult or humiliate a person on the basis of race is further evidence that changes to the Racial Discrimination Act are unwarranted and unwanted, said Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane. "There is a high level of opposition to plans to water-down the Race Discrimination Act," Dr Soutphommasane said. "The overwhelming majority of Australians see no need for repealing or amending our racial vilification laws. "The Nielsen poll results are consistent with the views expressed by multicultural and Indigenous communities, human rights organisations, the legal profession and many other people I have consulted about this issue. ... ""
* CAAMA RADIO: WE CANNOT IGNORE THE HUMAN QUESTION OF THE DEBATE ... RACE DISCRIMINATION COMMISSIONER
- Audio Interview
CAAMA Radio: We cannot ignore the human question of the debate ...Race Discrimination Commissioner.
[CAAMA: Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association]
http://caama.com.au/we-cannot-ignore-the-human-question-of-the-debate-ra...
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Race-Relations-Commission...
14 Apr 14: "A new poll showing 88% of respondents disagree with the idea that it should be lawful to offend, insult or humiliate a person on the basis of race is further evidence that changes to the Racial Discrimination Act are unwarranted and unwanted according to Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane. ... Race Relations Commissioner Dr Tim Soutphommasane changes to racial vilification law"
"A first-generation Australian of Chinese and Lao extraction, Dr Soutphommasane was raised in southwest Sydney. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford, from where he also holds a Master of Philosophy degree."
* STEPHANIE ANDERSON, SBS NEWS: AUTHORS AND ARTISTS SPEAK OUT AGAINST CHANGES TO RDA
- Audio
SBS News: Authors and artists speak out against changes to RDA
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/04/17/authors-and-artists-speak-...
17 & 18 Apr 14: "More than 175 Australian authors, artists and publishers have lodged a joint submission with the Attorney-General’s Department, arguing against the proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act. ... Signatories including academic Eva Cox said the balance between upholding freedom of speech while maintaining personal protections against racial discrimination had already been sufficiently established by the current Act. The submission follows a Fairfax-Nielsen poll which found that the majority of voters were in the favour of the Act remaining as is." By
Stephanie Anderson, Multimedia journalist, SBS World News
* BACKGROUND: OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT (RDA) CHANGES
Last updated: 8 April 2014
http://indymedia.org.au/2014/03/27/background-opposition-to-proposed-rac...
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